Urban Tree Canopy
About the Author
Steve Offutt has more than seventeen years experience with climate change and energy efficiency markets, technologies and marketing programs in the private sector, non-profit sector and at the Environmental Protection Agency. He has led teams that have created, developed and implemented highly successful marketing and communication efforts, including the ENERGY STAR ® programs.
About This Video
Steve Offutt, in this proposal unveiled at The Policy Greenhouse at The George Washington University, pitches a way to increase the urban tree canopy in Washington, D.C., through the use of market mechanisms. He proposes that the city set a requirement for the average number of trees in the city, and apply it to each property. Property owners with excess tree coverage would get "canopy credits" that they could then sell to those with treeless areas such as large parking lots.
By increasing the average tree requirement year over year, the city could reverse the loss of urban canopy. This could lead to more shade, a reduction of urban heat island effect, energy and greenhouse gas savings, urban wildlife habitat, reduced storm water runoff, and more pleasant streets. [For a look at how much the D.C. tree count has changed over the past 35 years, see this report.]
Click here to see the photo gallery from The Policy Greenhouse, a July 10, 2009, event where ten different proposals were presented on ways to make Washington, D.C., a more sustainable place to work and live. Also see some of the other Greenhouse ideas: A Big Green Hotel For The Homeless, No Bike Left Behind, Tax Lien Financing, The Right Tree In The Right Place and Transportation Planning Done Right In D.C.
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